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Bitter Snow #1
Bitter Snow
Bitter Snow (a YA paranormal romance told in a series of nine novellas)
Volume One: Bitter Snow
All Gilly Breslin wants for her sixteenth birthday is for her best friend Kai to see her as more than just the girl next door he’s known forever. So when she receives a mysterious, romantic invitation to meet him at midnight, she knows she has to go.
But it’s St. Nicholas’s Eve, the ancient festival of Bellsnichol, when demons roam the dark winter landscape. Tradition demands that everyone in the tiny town of Bremerton stay inside, doors shut tight against evil.
Gilly thinks it’s just a quaint old superstition. She has no idea that a malevolent power has been unleashed in Bremerton—with Kai as its target. But when she answers her door at midnight, her romantic date turns deadly…and she’s drawn into an ancient web of fear and darkness that threatens everything she loves.
This book is a novella - about 87 pages, 32,000 words.
Volume One: Bitter Snow
All Gilly Breslin wants for her sixteenth birthday is for her best friend Kai to see her as more than just the girl next door he’s known forever. So when she receives a mysterious, romantic invitation to meet him at midnight, she knows she has to go.
But it’s St. Nicholas’s Eve, the ancient festival of Bellsnichol, when demons roam the dark winter landscape. Tradition demands that everyone in the tiny town of Bremerton stay inside, doors shut tight against evil.
Gilly thinks it’s just a quaint old superstition. She has no idea that a malevolent power has been unleashed in Bremerton—with Kai as its target. But when she answers her door at midnight, her romantic date turns deadly…and she’s drawn into an ancient web of fear and darkness that threatens everything she loves.
This book is a novella - about 87 pages, 32,000 words.
87 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2013
26 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 9, 2014
The story is a re-telling of Han’s Christian Anderson’s dark fairy tale, THE SNOW QUEEN. I grew up with my grandmother loved reading them to me before bed, all the way up till.. heck I don’t thinks he ever stopped. It was… a tradition! Part of me feels she perhaps wanted to scare me straight, of course Hans Christian Anderson fairy tales were meant to square everyone straight and with BITTER SNOW the retelling of the snow queen is retold in a way that makes you feel the darkness creeping in while getting excited about a new version of the story. I started reading this in the wee hours of the morning and did not put it down till I was done. It was the perfect length and it opened up the tale, originally told in seven parts, with an ending just enough of a cliffhanger not to be frustrating, but enough to keep me excited to read the next eight.
Last Thursday, December 5th was St. Nicholas’s Eve and being from a family which does celebrate it I had my own traditions to practice. This year mine consisted of a traditional watching of The Sound of Music and a toast of Soy Egg Nog. Our protagonist Gilly has traditions piled one on top of another living in the small town of Bremerton, SOMEWHERE USA. As a teenager she balks at some of them, even though it is hard to do so.. but perhaps she shouldn’t have because this year especially on her 16th birthday where the celebrating coincided with Bellsnichol (St. Nicholas’s Eve) and which in the end turned out to be a bit more exciting than she expected.
This is a great series to grab and start reading with your teenager, boy or girl for that matter, it has everything a good young adult should have in it. I also highly recommend it to those who also love reading fairy tales redone. Lauren Sweet hit it out of the park, hats off to her! Mesmerized would be a good description of how this story is for me. The chilling (pun intended) pulls you in and takes you on the ride. There are some points of excitement, fear and those warm feelings you get when thinking about holiday traditions. Her voice was lovely and the characters are well rounded and filled out just enough to keep me hooked.
Some of the things discussed in the book are how important traditions are to have. In today’s world everyone is so busy and always does things so fast. A story such as Bitter Snow reminds us not everyone and everything needs to be moving at warp speed. Towns like Gilly’s Bremerton is not so much stuck in the past but actively keeps these traditions alive to teach their children the value of holding onto your heritage. We have a town like this in the state where I grew up. Leavenworth, WA. It’s a place many go as tourists, but knowing many folks who live there, it is also a town, heavily steeped in traditions (though not as much as Bremerton’s, such as the RUNNING OF THE DEMONS *grin*) but there are very private traditions which the townsfolk hold dear. In a lot of ways this is one of those reads which bring so many wonderful memories back. But like I said, it is full of lessons to be learned and listened to between the lines, just like traditional fairy tales are meant too… scare you straight, or scare you straight back to what you were suppose to be doing in the first place. As Gilly learns, her decisions do not just affect herself, but end up affecting the whole town…
9.5 out of 10 snowflakes (check out
Last Thursday, December 5th was St. Nicholas’s Eve and being from a family which does celebrate it I had my own traditions to practice. This year mine consisted of a traditional watching of The Sound of Music and a toast of Soy Egg Nog. Our protagonist Gilly has traditions piled one on top of another living in the small town of Bremerton, SOMEWHERE USA. As a teenager she balks at some of them, even though it is hard to do so.. but perhaps she shouldn’t have because this year especially on her 16th birthday where the celebrating coincided with Bellsnichol (St. Nicholas’s Eve) and which in the end turned out to be a bit more exciting than she expected.
This is a great series to grab and start reading with your teenager, boy or girl for that matter, it has everything a good young adult should have in it. I also highly recommend it to those who also love reading fairy tales redone. Lauren Sweet hit it out of the park, hats off to her! Mesmerized would be a good description of how this story is for me. The chilling (pun intended) pulls you in and takes you on the ride. There are some points of excitement, fear and those warm feelings you get when thinking about holiday traditions. Her voice was lovely and the characters are well rounded and filled out just enough to keep me hooked.
Some of the things discussed in the book are how important traditions are to have. In today’s world everyone is so busy and always does things so fast. A story such as Bitter Snow reminds us not everyone and everything needs to be moving at warp speed. Towns like Gilly’s Bremerton is not so much stuck in the past but actively keeps these traditions alive to teach their children the value of holding onto your heritage. We have a town like this in the state where I grew up. Leavenworth, WA. It’s a place many go as tourists, but knowing many folks who live there, it is also a town, heavily steeped in traditions (though not as much as Bremerton’s, such as the RUNNING OF THE DEMONS *grin*) but there are very private traditions which the townsfolk hold dear. In a lot of ways this is one of those reads which bring so many wonderful memories back. But like I said, it is full of lessons to be learned and listened to between the lines, just like traditional fairy tales are meant too… scare you straight, or scare you straight back to what you were suppose to be doing in the first place. As Gilly learns, her decisions do not just affect herself, but end up affecting the whole town…
9.5 out of 10 snowflakes (check out
March 13, 2021
I liked the sassy attitude of the main character here, and I think the structure of 9 installments will work well. She's a modern-day teen, angsting over a friend-boyfriend conundrum, when all these crazy things start happening in her quiet New England town, and she must keep pace with new discoveries in order to save both her love and ... the world?? It really hooks you in with great funny detail and characters who make you care. PLUS, the awesome cliffhanger scene near the end nails the story to the fantasy wall with a gong- really well done. An exciting and fun read!
Full disclosure: I know the author, but did pay for the book. My review is not biased by my relationship with author.
Full disclosure: I know the author, but did pay for the book. My review is not biased by my relationship with author.
December 31, 2013
Generally, I’m not a fan of retellings; perhaps because the original stories are too well established in my heart and mind, maybe because over the time I have created a personal image of them that can hardly be changed. But after reading Bitter Snow and Dark Solstice I can say that I’m ready to read every retelling / work of Mrs. Lauren Sweet.
In fact, it’s not very correct to say that Bitter Snow series is a retelling. Yes, it is inspired by the Snow Queen, but it’s taken much further.
It is fresh, exciting, full of feelings and magic. There are no moments to roll your eyes, there is nothing "exaggerated" or out of place. Everything flows as normally as possible, the mysteries are revealed only to be replaced by (other) challenges and love is woven with dark moments. Everything is well thought out, synchronized and managed by the author. Magic and traditions, extraordinary relationship, new or old, are born, change or seem to fall apart, hints and thoughtful or hasty decisions are masterfully handled. Paranormal and human plans are interwoven in a “natural" way and the bridge between worlds is guarded by folklore. Traditions show us what we were and what we are now, tell us what to do, their purpose being greater than entertainment. Failure to respect them can have serious consequences, especially when they were born out of fear and need, for protection. Bitter Snow and Dark Solstice are full of action, traps and dangers.
The characters, good or bad, with their own interests or for the welfare of the community, with some flaws that make them more attractive, fits very well in their roles, are veridical and you feel them in full. Their lines are smart, witty, and they will entertain or indispose you as the case may be, and the author's style contributes to the quality of the stories. I have to admit that although I like all the characters, my favorite is ... I cannot tell you because I risk to spoil the pleasure of discovering yourselves ... I’ll just mention that he has "eyes to get lost in", he loves sparkle things and always ask for food ... :D.
Interesting is also the way in which the series is organized. It consists of nine short stories, but do not worry, the author promised a short time between them. Volume three is announced for the 5th of January, 2014 and I cannot wait to see the path that courage, determination and love will lead our heroes.
I do not know exactly from when Mrs. Sweet writes, but Bitter Snow series announces her as a writer that will be successful in the world of Fantasy genre.
In fact, it’s not very correct to say that Bitter Snow series is a retelling. Yes, it is inspired by the Snow Queen, but it’s taken much further.
It is fresh, exciting, full of feelings and magic. There are no moments to roll your eyes, there is nothing "exaggerated" or out of place. Everything flows as normally as possible, the mysteries are revealed only to be replaced by (other) challenges and love is woven with dark moments. Everything is well thought out, synchronized and managed by the author. Magic and traditions, extraordinary relationship, new or old, are born, change or seem to fall apart, hints and thoughtful or hasty decisions are masterfully handled. Paranormal and human plans are interwoven in a “natural" way and the bridge between worlds is guarded by folklore. Traditions show us what we were and what we are now, tell us what to do, their purpose being greater than entertainment. Failure to respect them can have serious consequences, especially when they were born out of fear and need, for protection. Bitter Snow and Dark Solstice are full of action, traps and dangers.
The characters, good or bad, with their own interests or for the welfare of the community, with some flaws that make them more attractive, fits very well in their roles, are veridical and you feel them in full. Their lines are smart, witty, and they will entertain or indispose you as the case may be, and the author's style contributes to the quality of the stories. I have to admit that although I like all the characters, my favorite is ... I cannot tell you because I risk to spoil the pleasure of discovering yourselves ... I’ll just mention that he has "eyes to get lost in", he loves sparkle things and always ask for food ... :D.
Interesting is also the way in which the series is organized. It consists of nine short stories, but do not worry, the author promised a short time between them. Volume three is announced for the 5th of January, 2014 and I cannot wait to see the path that courage, determination and love will lead our heroes.
I do not know exactly from when Mrs. Sweet writes, but Bitter Snow series announces her as a writer that will be successful in the world of Fantasy genre.
January 10, 2014
Review by: WTFAreYouReading of Night Owl Reviews - 4.5 Stars - Top Pick
"Bitter Snow" may be a small book, but don't be fooled. There is definitely a fully grown story packed into its 82 pages!
Gilly Breslin and her father call the idealic hamlet of Bremerton home.
Though Bremerton is located somewhere in the US, the people and their traditions are strictly Old World. Old World as in Austrian and Bavarian that is. Right down to the annual celebration of Bellsnichol, or St. Nicholas' Eve each December 5th.
December 5th also happens to be particularly special for Gilly. Its her birthday, and while the fun and festivities of Bellsnichol promise fun with friends and neighbors; Gilly has her heart set on time spent alone with her best friend Kai.
But...you know what they say about "the best laid plans".
Things change in a most fantastic way when a beautiful stranger comes to town and Gilly opens a door better left closed...in more ways than one.
"Bitter Snow" is the first book in a fabulous retelling of "The Snow Queen". Rather than trying to remake the original tale however, this tale's author has chosen to expand the scope of her work by delving deeper into the lore, and bringing said lore out of its dark past and into the modern world. The Snow Queen does feature in this first book, but she is by no means alone. Her wolven henchmen, imps, and even St. Nicholas himself make an appearance.
Gilly proves herself to be a wonderful heroine, full of snark, intelligence, and wit...and the horror laced action is first rate.
© Night Owl Reviews
"Bitter Snow" may be a small book, but don't be fooled. There is definitely a fully grown story packed into its 82 pages!
Gilly Breslin and her father call the idealic hamlet of Bremerton home.
Though Bremerton is located somewhere in the US, the people and their traditions are strictly Old World. Old World as in Austrian and Bavarian that is. Right down to the annual celebration of Bellsnichol, or St. Nicholas' Eve each December 5th.
December 5th also happens to be particularly special for Gilly. Its her birthday, and while the fun and festivities of Bellsnichol promise fun with friends and neighbors; Gilly has her heart set on time spent alone with her best friend Kai.
But...you know what they say about "the best laid plans".
Things change in a most fantastic way when a beautiful stranger comes to town and Gilly opens a door better left closed...in more ways than one.
"Bitter Snow" is the first book in a fabulous retelling of "The Snow Queen". Rather than trying to remake the original tale however, this tale's author has chosen to expand the scope of her work by delving deeper into the lore, and bringing said lore out of its dark past and into the modern world. The Snow Queen does feature in this first book, but she is by no means alone. Her wolven henchmen, imps, and even St. Nicholas himself make an appearance.
Gilly proves herself to be a wonderful heroine, full of snark, intelligence, and wit...and the horror laced action is first rate.
© Night Owl Reviews
January 2, 2014
I got this book from the author, free of cost, in exchange of an honest review from my side.
Firstly I would like to thank the author and the tour organizers for giving me this opportunity for reading and reviewing this series.
Well, I'm really impressed with this series and loved each book that I read in this series. The over all story is mind-blowing and I loved the way the story flowed from one book to another. The plot is awesome and I liked the setting of the plot very much.
The mystery is great and the suspense kept me interested till the very end and not to mention that I loved the ending of each book very much. I liked the writing style of the author very much and would like to read more of her work in future.
Over all a great series which everyone should give it a try because I'm sure you guys will like it just as I did. So go grab your copy and enjoy!!!
January 3, 2015
I completely enjoyed this read. The author gave her characters true feeling and emotional conflicts. The descriptions of the town on Bremmerton and its traditions are captivating and the reader receives a clear picture through the author's detailed style.
Gilly is a strong and realistic 16 year old struggling with personal growth in a small town. Encountering situations presented in life, the author draws readers to remember situations in of their own. Will Kai become the man she believes him to be, or will his choices lead him away from Gillly? I look forward to the next book in the series to find out more!
Fairy tales are a wonderful escape and the retelling of the Snow Queen in today's setting is done superbly by Lauren Sweet. Thank you for sharing your story and your writing talent.
September 3, 2015
Faeries of the Midwest, rejoice! The Bellsnichol demons have come to be your friends, and they seem to have brought a tasty human male for dessert. Let's just hope he doesn't have any heroine-type best friends bent on saving him...oh, wait, my bad. Hold the kazoos.
In this modern rendering of "The Snow Queen," Lauren Sweet captures the essence of the fairy tale for a young adult audience. Gilly is beset with all the usual issues of a sixteen-year-old girl, plus a druidic ice goddess with goatish minions competing for her would-be boyfriend's attention. Poor Gilly. But she won't take this s*** lying down. She's going after her Kai. So look out, faerie. She's got arrows, and she knows how to shoot them.
The coolest part? This novella is just the beginning. There are already two sequels. I can't wait to read them!
In this modern rendering of "The Snow Queen," Lauren Sweet captures the essence of the fairy tale for a young adult audience. Gilly is beset with all the usual issues of a sixteen-year-old girl, plus a druidic ice goddess with goatish minions competing for her would-be boyfriend's attention. Poor Gilly. But she won't take this s*** lying down. She's going after her Kai. So look out, faerie. She's got arrows, and she knows how to shoot them.
The coolest part? This novella is just the beginning. There are already two sequels. I can't wait to read them!
January 5, 2014
I had the privilege of reading the first two books of the series and I have to say that I was enthralled right from the very beginning. It has been so long since I had read anything about the Snow Queen that I found this book very interesting. The premise of a night of demons running through the town in modern day and having a town still believe in all the myths was "mind blowing". I loved how Gilly steps up to fight for the man she loves and along the way finds out things aren't what they seem. I thought both short stories were well written and I can't wait to see where the rest of this series goes! Definitely add this to your collection!
March 19, 2014
A marvelous modern spin on the old world tale The Snow Queen! Gillian’s dark hair and amber eyes make her stand out in her small town of fair-skinned, blue-eyed German immigrants. Adding to her difficulties is her wish to transform her lifelong best friend Kai into something more romantic. What better opportunity than the Winter Dance? All Gilly’s plans to entice Kai to ask her to the dance are going smoothly until a stunningly beautiful girl moves to town, capturing Kai’s heart and destroying Gilly’s hopes.
What’s a girl to do when an evil ice princess moves in on her man? Don a fabulous red dress and killer heels and go kick some demon ass, that’s what! If only it were that simple…
What’s a girl to do when an evil ice princess moves in on her man? Don a fabulous red dress and killer heels and go kick some demon ass, that’s what! If only it were that simple…
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews